Page 161 of Saving Serena

“I think you’d like him. He’s no nonsense.”

CHAPTER 43

Serena

Monday morning,I fingered one of the earrings Duke had given me as I remembered his words.“I love you, Tiger.”It had been a battle, but he loved me. And I was never letting him go.

Since I didn’t have cancer, I was back in the office today, as demanded by his highness Dr. Powell. I’d walked by his office when I first arrived so he’d notice me, and then again, to make sure.

Luckily, Winston had made copies of what he found in the locker before turning it over to the FBI. Regardless of what happened with Aiden Pons, the material would be more than enough to get our criminal investigative division and the US Attorney’s office interested in filing charges against Knife Creek, the company.

As I saw it, Pons might have been the head of the snake, but the size of the operation meant more people at the company had to have been involved. It was probably one of them who’d called Pons’s phone while the FBI guys were at the house.

Katelyn bounced up and surprised me. “Ready?”

I looked up and closed the folder. “For what?”

“Another day, another site visit.”

With all that had happened last week, I didn’t share her enthusiasm this morning. “Where to?” I’d given Powell a request for a week off to be with Duke and relax, and that was my focus. Who knew when he’d get around to giving me an answer.

“Some little shit place down south,” Katelyn said. “We’re taking my car, but you can drive.”

“Isn’t that out of our area?”

“I don’t question Powell. I just go where he sends me.”

After putting away the folder, I grabbed my purse and followed her.

An hour later,the industrial area we drove through became increasingly sketchy.

Katelyn pointed. “Turn right down there.”

It was only an alley between buildings, but I turned in as instructed.

“It’s the door on the right, all the way at the end.”

I stopped, and we got out. “You weren’t kidding when you called this a little shit place.” The rusty door had a sign hanging at an angle that readOccidental Garlic,an odd name.

Katelyn went in first.

The hallway was dank, with only dim light from a window above the door after it closed behind me. The slight garlic odor in the air said the sign hadn’t been a joke.

Strong hands grabbed my arm. “I’ve got you now, pretty one.”

I whipped my head around to find Johnson Spinelli.It can’t be.He was supposed to be halfway across the country.

He clamped the same sickly sweet-smelling rag over my mouth.Not again.I kicked at him and pulled away. My foot connected with his shin.

“Fucking bitch.” He slammed me against the wall.

My head hit hard, and pain rippled through me. I couldn’t avoid sucking in a breath.

“You’re not getting away this time, little bitch.”

As my vision blurred, I wished I’d accepted Duke’s necklace.

Johnson roughly grabbed my breast.

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